The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has released the Visa Bulletin for April, advancing the priority dates for employment-based second and third preference categories for green cards and immigrant visas. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it will continue using the “Final Action Dates” from the Visa Bulletin for employment-based green card applications in April, rather than the “Dates for Filing.” This means the filing dates for green card applications (for those in the U.S.) and the availability of immigrant visas (for those outside the U.S.) will align.
For the first preference employment-based category, the filing and visa availability dates remain “current” in April, consistent with previous months. This allows individuals in the U.S. to file their I-140 petitions alongside their I-485 green card applications without delay in April. Similarly, those outside the U.S. face no wait time for visa availability as long as the category remains current. However, due to visa backlogs at U.S. embassies and consulates, scheduling immigrant visa interviews for those abroad continues to take significant time.
For the second preference category, the priority date for filing I-485 green card applications in April has advanced to June 22, 2023. This marks a roughly three-week improvement from the March priority date of May 15, 2023. Individuals outside the U.S. with priority dates before June 22, 2023, may also schedule visa interviews and obtain immigrant visas in April, provided other requirements are met.
For skilled workers in the third preference category, applicants who filed their labor certifications before January 1, 2023, and have received approval can file their I-485 green card applications in April. This is a one-month advancement from the March priority date of December 1, 2022. Similarly, those outside the U.S. with approved labor certifications filed before January 1, 2023, may be eligible for visa interviews in April.
For unskilled workers in the third preference category, individuals who filed labor certifications before May 22, 2021, and have received approval can file I-485 green card applications in April. This reflects a significant advancement of nearly four months from the March priority date of February 1, 2021—a welcome development for applicants in this category. For those outside the U.S., individuals with approved labor certifications filed before May 22, 2021, may also qualify for visa interviews in April.
There is disappointing news for the fourth preference category, which includes certain special immigrants and religious workers. The U.S. Department of State has announced that the annual limit for this category has been reached within the first five months of the fiscal year, rendering it unavailable. No further visas or green cards will be issued in this category until the next fiscal year begins on October 1, 2025.
In collaboration with USCIS, the Department of State has confirmed that all immigrant visas available for the fourth preference category in fiscal year 2025 have been issued. Under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, the number of employment-based immigrant visas issued annually is capped. Specifically, the fourth preference category is limited to 7.1% of the total worldwide employment-based green card allocation, which equates to approximately 9,940 visas out of the 140,000 annual employment-based visa limit. This cap also includes country-specific quotas.
As a result, U.S. embassies and consulates will not issue visas in this category for the remainder of the fiscal year. The annual limits will reset on October 1, 2025, when the new fiscal year begins, allowing visa issuance to resume for eligible applicants. Notably, last year, the fourth preference category reached its limit by late August, but this year, the cap was exhausted much earlier.
The fourth preference category has historically included special immigrants such as foreign employees of the U.S. government or international organizations. For example, foreign workers laid off by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) during the Trump administration’s dissolution of the agency were encouraged to apply for special immigrant visas under this category. However, the process has faced delays, with some waiting nearly six years to complete it.
Employment-based fourth preference green cards are issued under various programs, including those for religious workers, certain international organization employees, and foreign nationals who have provided loyal and valuable service to the U.S. government for a designated period. The early exhaustion of this year’s visa allocation highlights the high demand and limited availability in this category.
For now, applicants in the fourth preference category must wait until the next fiscal year for additional opportunities, while those in the first, second, and third preference categories can take advantage of the advancements outlined in the April Visa Bulletin.
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
